A Worldwide Milestone in Cell Analysis – 40 Years of Flow Cytometry

GORLITZ, Germany, June 18 /PRNewswire/ — 2009 is the year of the 40th
anniversary since the introduction of the worldwide first fluorescence based
flow cytometer – the ICP 11.

Today, the German biotechnology company celebrates this anniversary at
the Saxonian State Vineyard Castle Wackerbarth near Dresden. For the festive
ceremony, CEO Roland Gohde receives 100 guests from the scientific,
economical and political society.

In 1968, the fluorescence based cytometry was developed by Professor Dr.

Wolfgang Gohde at the University in Muenster and patented in the same year
(German patent application DE1815352). Nowadays, flow cytometry has evolved
as a standard tool for a broad range of applications in healthcare,
microbiology, agroscience, aquaculture and quality control in the industrial
field.

Fluorescence based flow cytometry is a standard method for automated and
rapid cell analysis and cell enumeration procedures. Using most modern
optoelectronics, cells and particles of small size, even in nanometer range,
are detected. The cells are marked with specific reagents and excited by one
or more laser, consequently the emitted fluorescent signals are collected.
With the obtained data, cells can be characterized, classified, quantified
and sorted. For HIV monitoring, accompanying the antiretroviral therapy of
AIDS patients, it is necessary to determine the number of CD4 cells.

Partec has developed a generation of robust, easy to operate and cost
effective flow cytometers that can be operated in resource-poor areas in
developing countries. 75 employees are working at the company site in
Goerlitz, where the dedicated diagnostic solutions are being developed and
manufactured. Partec offers the complete diagnostic package and reagents in
the fight against Tb, Malaria and HIV/ AIDS.

    http://www.partec.com

    Claudia Khmel
    Partec GmbH
    Am Flugplatz 13, 02828 Gorlitz
    Fon: +49-(0)3581-8746-0
    c.khmel@partec.com

SOURCE Partec GmbH